Medieval Jews and the Christian Past

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram Ben-Shalom
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Historical Consciousness ◽  
Church History ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Southern France ◽  
Jewish Thought ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
History Of ◽  
Christian Literature

The focus in this book is on the historical consciousness of the Jews of Spain and southern France in the late Middle Ages, and specifically on their perceptions of Christianity and Christian history and culture. The book shows that in these southern European lands Jews experienced a relatively open society that was sensitive to and knowledgeable about voices from other cultures, and that this had significant consequences for shaping Jewish historical consciousness. Among the topics discussed are what Jews knew of the significance of Rome, of Jesus and the early days of Christianity, of Church history, and of the history of the Iberian monarchies. The book demonstrates that, despite the negative stereotypes of Jewry prevalent in Christian literature, they were more influenced by their interactions with Christian society at the local level. Consequently, there was no single stereotype that dominated Jewish thought, and frequently little awareness of the two societies as representing distinct cultures. The book demonstrates that in Spain and southern France, Jews of the later Middle Ages evinced a genuine interest in history, including the history of non-Jews, and that in some cases they were deeply familiar with Christian and sometimes also classical historiography. The book enriches our understanding of medieval historiography, polemic, Jewish–Christian relations, and the breadth of interests characterizing Provencal and Spanish Jewish communities.

Forma Dat Esse

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-446
Author(s):  
Sylvain Roudaut
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Progressive Decline ◽  
De Trinitate ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Middle Ages

Abstract This paper offers an overview of the history of the axiom forma dat esse, which was commonly quoted during the Middle Ages to describe formal causality. The first part of the paper studies the origin of this principle, and recalls how the ambiguity of Boethius’s first formulation of it in the De Trinitate was variously interpreted by the members of the School of Chartres. Then, the paper examines the various declensions of the axiom that existed in the late Middle Ages, and shows how its evolution significantly follows the progressive decline of the Aristotelian model of formal causality.

The Virtues of Economy

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Political Culture ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Fourteenth Century ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Political Society ◽  
Future Role ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
History Of ◽  
The City ◽  
Distinct Role

The humanist perception of fourteenth-century Rome as a slumbering ruin awaiting the Renaissance and the return of papal power has cast a long shadow on the historiography of the city. Challenging the view, this book argues that Roman political culture underwent dramatic changes in the late Middle Ages, with profound and lasting implications for the city's subsequent development. The book examines the transformation of Rome's governing elites as a result of changes in the city's economic, political, and spiritual landscape. It explores this shift through the history of Roman political society, its identity as an urban commune, and its once-and-future role as the spiritual capital of Latin Christendom. Tracing the contours of everyday Roman politics, the book reframes the reestablishment of papal sovereignty in Rome as the product of synergy between papal ambitions and local political culture. More broadly, it emphasizes Rome's distinct role in evolution of medieval Italy's city-communes.

scholarly journals Revival and preservation of historical memory in the creative heritage of Professor M. P. Kovalskyi

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Serhii I. Svitlenko
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Historical Memory ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Scientific School ◽  
Subject Field ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
Archival Documents ◽  
Source Studies ◽  
History Of ◽  
Historical Epoch

The purpose of the article is to reveal the concept of the revival and preservation of historical memory in the creative heritage of Professor M. P. Kovalskyi. Research methods: historical-genetic, historical-system and historical-biographical; complex and personalistic approaches. Sources: a series of archival documents of personal origin, published sources of epistolary and memoir character, the latest historiography. The main results. In the analytical article the regularities of the choice of young scientists in the field of scientific research are highlighted. The peculiarities of the study of the scientist-historian of the source-related problems of the period of transition from the late Middle Ages to the early Modern (ХVІ – the first half of the ХVІІ century) are studied in an atmosphere of the Soviet reality of the 70ʼs and 80ʼs of the 20th century; is accentuated on the great heuristic activity of the scientist; shows his specific contribution to the study of this historical epoch. It is argued that one can speak about the complexity of M. Kovalskyiʼs approach to the development of a source base as a documentary basis for the revival of historical memory. It was proved that the part of the process of renaissance and preservation of historical memory by Professor M. P. Kovalskyi was his work in the development of Ukrainian archeography. The afore mentioned process was traced in the creative heritage of the professor not only in the national, but also in the regional and historical lore contexts. It is highlighted that in the process of revival and preservation of historical memory M. P. Kovalskyi significantly expanded the subject field of research, boldly engaging in the innovative scientific themes of his students. The attention was also paid to the methodical aspect of the revival and preservation of historical memory by Professor M. P. Kovalskyi, which was very broad, including the study of historical chronology, museology, historiography, source studies, historical heuristics, and historical bibliography. Conclusions. Professor M. P. Kovalskyi was made a great contribution to the revival and preservation of the historical memory of Ukrainians about the Cossack period of Ukrainian history, actively involving young scientists, postgraduates and students in this process, which resulted in the formation and formation of a scientific school on source study the history of Ukraine in the ХVІ–ХVІІІ centuries. Practical meaning. The material of this article may be interesting in the process of preparing students and postgraduates, preparing theses. Scientific novelty. The research has actualized a variety of primary sources, insufficiently researched the perspective of the creative activity of Professor M. P. Kovalskyi.

scholarly journals LATE MEDIEVAL MONUMENTS IN THE MATSUTA GLADE OF THE DIGOR GORGE

Kavkaz-forum ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 101-119
Author(s):  
Г.Н . Вольная (Керцева)
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Burial Ground ◽  
Late Medieval ◽  
Funeral Rite ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
Project Construction ◽  
History Of

Материальная культура позднего средневековья Дигорского ущелья Северной Осетии недостаточно хорошо изучена по сравнению с другими периодами. В статье впервые представлен комплекс археологических памятников, расположенных на Поляне Мацута Дигорского ущелья: памятники, их расположение, история изучения. Цель исследования – рассмотреть Поляну Мацута как погребальный и культовый комплекс, где находятся позднесредневековые полуподземные склепы, каменные ящики, менгиры, цырты, «нартовский» ныхас, поселения кобанского и аланского периодов. Это памятники являются почитаемыми у местного населения, упоминаются в нартовском эпосе. В статье использовались полевые методы исследования, метод анализа и аналогий. В статье представлен авторский материал спасательных раскопок 2020 г. «Грунтового могильника Мацута I, средневековье» XVI-XVIII вв. в зоне реализации проекта «Строительство фельдшерско-акушерского пункта в с. Мацута». Могильник представляет собой погребения в каменных ящиках. Всего было раскопано 75 ящиков, в которых покойные лежали вытянуто на спине головой на запад с широтными отклонениями. Некоторые ранние погребения сопровождаются обрядом кремации. Погребальный обряд находит аналогии в горной Балкарии. Для погребального обряда характерно отсутствие керамической посуды в погребениях. Над ранними погребениями могильника была устроена тризна с кремацией и большим количеством фрагментированной керамики, скорее всего местного производства. Погребальный инвентарь достаточно беден и характерен для горнокавказской культуры позднего средневековья. Во взрослых погребениях найдены одежда, обувь, пояса, головные уборы, пояса; в женских – украшения; в мужских – ножи, оселки. В детских погребениях (в большинстве случаев) слева от головы обнаружены только куриные яйца, либо погребальный инвентарь совсем отсутствует. Отмечается высокая детская смертность. Детские погребения составляют почти 50% от всего числа раскопанных погребений. The material culture of the late middle ages of the Digor gorge in North Ossetia is not well studied in comparison with other periods. The article presents for the first time a complex of archaeological monuments located in The Matsuta Glade of the Digor gorge: monuments, their location, and history of study. The purpose of the study is to consider the Matsuta Glade as a funerary and cult complex, where there are late medieval semi-underground crypts, stone boxes, menhirs, tsyrts, "nartovsky" Nykhas, settlements of the Koban and Alan periods. These monuments are revered by the local population, mentioned in the Nart epic. The article uses field research methods, the method of analysis and analogies. The article presents the author's material of rescue excavations in 2020 of the "Ground burial ground of Matsuta I, middle ages" of the XVI-XVIII centuries in the area of the project "Construction of a paramedic and midwifery station in the village of Matsuta". The burial ground is a burial in stone boxes. In total, 75 boxes were excavated, in which the deceased lay stretched out on their backs with their heads facing West with latitude deviations. Some early burials are accompanied by a cremation ceremony. The funeral rite finds analogies in the mountainous Balkaria. The funeral rite is characterized by the absence of ceramic dishes in the burials. A funeral feast with cremation and a large amount of fragmented pottery, most likely of local production, was built over the early burials of the burial ground. The grave goods are rather poor and typical for mountain Caucasian culture of the late middle ages. In adult burials found clothes, shoes, belts, headwear, belts; women's jewelry; the men's knives, whetstones. In most children's burials, only chicken eggs are found to the left of the head, or there is no burial equipment at all. Children's funerals account for almost 50% of the total number of excavated graves.

scholarly journals Review on: Rod Dreher. The Benedict Option. A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation. New York: Sentinel, 2017

2019 ◽  
pp. 148-152
Author(s):  
Павел Великанов
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Cultural Models ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
Linear Scheme ◽  
European Philosophy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Western European ◽  
American Society ◽  
Christian Nation

У Рода Дреера получилась сильная, понятная и мотивирующая книга. Это настоящий эталон миссионерской (в светском значении этого слова) литературы. За ярким предисловием следует достаточно объёмный, но совсем не скучный экскурс в историю западноевропейской философии, в котором эта самая история постепенно складывается в линейную схему. Как считает автор, с позднего Средневековья и по настоящее время западноевропейское (и, как производная от него, американское) общество движется исключительно по пути моральной деградации и отхода от религии. Но это не эсхатологическая картина «охладения любви», о которой говорил Христос Спаситель (Мф. 24, 12). Речь идёт о якобы существующем кризисе одной из человеческих культурных моделей, вполне преодолимом человеческим же усилием. Rod Dreher's book is strong, clear and motivating. This is a true benchmark of missionary (in the secular sense of the word) literature. A vivid preface is followed by a rather voluminous, but not at all boring excursion into the history of Western European philosophy, in which this very history is gradually formed into a linear scheme. According to the author, from the late Middle Ages to the present, Western European (and, as a derivative of it, American) society has been moving exclusively along the path of moral degradation and departure from religion. But this is not the eschatological picture of the "cooling down of love" of which Christ the Saviour spoke (Matthew 24:12). We are talking about the alleged crisis of one of the human cultural models, quite surmountable by human efforts.

Violence and Masculinity

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Eibach
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Violent Crimes ◽  
Grand Theory ◽  
Modern Culture ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Violence ◽  
Shed Light

A consistent overrepresentation of men in recorded violent crimes and thus a certain disposition of male aggressiveness has been evident from the late Middle Ages to today. However, we can also detect several major shifts in the history of interpersonal male violence from the eighteenth century onward. From a cultural historical perspective, violent actions by men or women cannot be interpreted as contingent, individual acts, but rather must be seen as practices embedded in sociocultural contexts and accompanied by informal norms. Because one grand theory cannot account convincingly for the history of violence and masculinity, an array of approaches is more likely to shed light on the issue. Interestingly, shifts in the history of violence have often corresponded with changes to prevailing notions of masculinity. This essay delineates the relevant historical shifts from the early modern “culture of dispute” to the different paths of interpersonal violence over the twentieth century.

Lay Community and Church Instituions of the Lahngau in the Late Middle ages

1969 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-47
Author(s):  
Theodor Brodek
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
The People ◽  
Literary Sources ◽  
Development Of Attitudes ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship of the lay community to clerical institutions during the Middle Ages and especially in the pre–Reformation Era has long been a subject of methodical investigation. It has, however, proven extremely difficult to gain reliable evidence regarding subjective attitudes towards the clergy. Once the basic literary sources have been culled, further elucidation of the development of attitudes on the part of the majority of the people tends to become vague and hesitant or to rely on post hoc explanations. In this brief study, I have experimented with a statistical approach to the problem by tabulating the records of donations to three church institutions of the Lahngau in order to be able to trace, if at all possible, the evolution of attitudes which they reflect. I have, furthermore, attempted to test the hypothesis that the subjective attitudes of a social class towards a church institution are partially conditioned by the effective power exercised on the institution in question at the local level by the donor group.

Part I Histories, Ch.2 Roman Law and the Intellectual History of International Law

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesaffer Randall
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Intellectual History ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Roman Law ◽  
Late Middle Ages ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Law ◽  
History Of International Law ◽  
Roman Antiquity

This chapter describes the role of Roman law—whose influence has been largely underestimated in recent scholarship—in the intellectual history and development of international law. To that end, the chapter offers a general survey of the historical interactions between Roman law and international law, drawing from general insights into the intellectual history of law in Europe that have remained remarkably absent in the grand narrative of the history of international law. The focus is on the periods in which these interactions were most pronounced. Next to Roman Antiquity, these are the Late Middle Ages (eleventh to fifteenth centuries) and the Early Modern Age (sixteenth to eighteenth centuries).

An Accidental Historian: Erasmus and the English History of the Reformation

2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory D. Dodds
Keyword(s):  
Mental Image ◽  
Historical Consciousness ◽  
Church History ◽  
Desiderius Erasmus ◽  
English History ◽  
Catholic Clergy ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
History Of ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Historical Authority

When post-Reformation English authors sought to describe pre-Reformation Catholicism, they turned to the writings of Desiderius Erasmus for historical evidence to back up their arguments justifying the break from Rome. For many later English schoolboys, Erasmus was one of the only Catholic authors they read and the depictions of Catholicism found in the Praise of Folly and, especially, in the Colloquies, became their picture of Catholic clergy, as well as foundational imprints for their mental image of relics, pilgrimages, and other Catholic practices. References to Erasmus as a historical authority for his times appear in dozens, if not hundreds, of texts from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Ignoring the literary and fictitious nature of Erasmus's satirical texts, they used Erasmus to justify their depictions of Catholic corruption, superstition, and irrationality. Over time, these descriptions became an almost uncritically accepted portrayal of the Catholic world prior to the rise of Protestantism. This constructed reality thus became the worldview of English speaking Protestants from the mid-sixteenth century up to nearly the present. Examining how later English authors used Erasmus helps us understand the subsequent nature of English historical consciousness and the development of English and Protestant narratives of Church history.

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